Motor-sleigh.



P. H. SMITH.

MOTOR SLElGH.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2L 1915- 1,173,883. Patented Feb. 29,1916.

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THE COLUMBIA PLMyoGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, n. c.

P H. SMITH.

MOTOR SLEIGH.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 21, 1915.

1,173,883. Patented Feb. 29,1916.

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Witvwywa I attomu Or i \I P. H. SMITH.

MOTOR SLEIGH.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 21, 1915.

Patented Feb. 29, 1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3- III/IA III/III VIII ms COLUMBIA PLANDGRLZ H 20.. WASHINGTON, n. c.

PETER I-I. SMITH, OF LOTJ'GHEED, ALBERTA, CANADA.

MOTOR-SLEIGH.

Application filed March 27, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, PETER H. SMITH, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Lougheed, in the Province of Alberta and Dominion of Canada, have invented new and useful Improvements in Motor-Sleighs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to motor sleighs and has for its objects, among others, to provide novel means associated with the body, the runners, and the running gearwhereby each of the front runners is adapted to independently rock in a fore and aft direction and also to turn or swing laterally for the purpose of steering the sleigh and whereby also each of the rear runners is adapted to independently rock in a fore and aft direction, all of the runners thus acting independently of each other to enable them to accommodate themselves to any unevenness in the road surface over which the sleigh is propelled by the motor which serves to actuate the driving axle and traction wheels.

A further object of the invention is to provi de in connection with the front runners and the body or frame of the sleigh, a novel arrangement of front truck bolster and front body bolster having a rocking connection with each other, whereby all of the runners are adapted to rise and fall without affecting the horizontality of the main frame or body.

A further object is to provide novel means, manually controlled, for yieldingly depressing the rear part of the running gear, including the driving axle and traction wheels, in relation to the main frame or body, to obtain the necessary grip of the traction wheels on the supporting surface, while the rear runners are resting and traveling on said surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide in connection with the front runners, and steering means therefor, depressible road engaging fins, together with means for depressing said fins, and means'for permitting said fins to yi ld in an upward direction upon coming in contact with a hard object or surface.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as herein described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 29, 1916.

Serial No. 17,399.

1 is a side elevation of a motor sleigh embodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof partly broken away. Fig. 3 is a central vertical longitudinal section through the same. Fig. 4: is a bottom plan view of the sleigh partly broken away. Fig. 5 is a vertical cross section on the line 55 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a vertical longitudinal section through one of the rear runners, showing one of the traction wheels in elevation. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical cross section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a vertical longitudinal section through one of the front runners. Fig. 9 is a vertical cross section on the line 99 of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a vertical cross section on the line 10-10 of Fig. 1. Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the fin depressing means.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the motor sleigh comprises a frame or body A here inafter referred to in the main as the body of the sleigh, it being understood that the part A which is shown merely in the form of a substantially rectangular frame may constitute the body of the machine or a support for the body, a designating seats for the passengers and driver or operator. The body or frame A is supported upon and by front and rear runners designated generally and respectively at B and C.

D represents a platform or floor adjacent to the operators seat and fastened to the frame or body A. The motor or engine is conventially indicated at E, F designating the rear driving axle to which motion is imparted by the usual driving connections from the engine E, the axle F having the traction wheels G fast thereon and being preferably of the type now commonly employed in automobile practice, the axle F being of sectional construction and the sections thereof being actuated by the usual differential gearing in the housing H. In other words, as far as the driving or propelling mechanism is concerned, the usual motor car practice is resorted to.

The front runners B are pivotally connected at 1 to the opposite end of a front body bolster 2 to turn on substantially vertical axes for the purpose of steering the sleigh and in order to enable each of the front runners to rock in a fore and aft direction; each of said runners is provided with a hollow knee 3 in which the adjacent end of the truck bolster is received, the top wall runners are connected by a bar or yoke 7 having a jointed connection at its opposite ends with said runners, each of which is provided with a slotted clip 8 to receive the adjaccnt end of the yoke 7, said parts being pivotally connected together by a pin 9, the joint at the pin 9 being sufiici'ently loose to allow the forward extremity of one runner to rise and fall Without affecting the other runner, while at the same time permitting the runners to be swung to the right or to the left for the purpose of steering the sleigh.

The running gear comprises a reach bar 10 extending centrally and longitudinally in a rearward direction from the front truck bolster which is formed with a hole 11 in which the cross sectionally round forward part of the reach bar is journaled, a pin 12 being inserted through the forward extremity of the reach bar to prevent longitudinal sliding movement of the latter, the'pin 12 bearing against the inner face of anextension or loop 13 formed at the rear end of a brace 14 which inclines upwardly and forwardly toward its front end which is fastened at 15 to the front cross bar 16 of the frame or body A.

' The rear hounds 17 are secured at their forward convergent ends in fixed relation to the reach bar 10 and at their rear ends, said hounds are fastened in fixed relation to the rear axle housing 18, by means of straps 19 or their equivalent. Front hounds 20 are flexibly attached at their forward extremities to the front truck bolster 2 by means of clips 21 in connection with which horizontal i pivots 22 are employed to allow for a certain amount of flexibility between said hounds and bolster. The front hounds 20 converge rearwardly and are fixedly secured to a block or bearing member 23 formed with a bearing opening adapting said block to turn on the reachbar 10, the latter being and the rear driving axle F and thereby in anywise. disturbing or impairing the efficiency of the transmission and differential gearing. The forward part of the body or frame A is fastened to a body bolster 2 1 which is formed as shown in Fig. 5 with upwardly diverging lower faces adapting the bolster 24 to rock upon the truck bolster 2 to which it is pivotally connected at 25. Thus the front runners may rise and fall or rock in a fore and aft direction without dis turbing the horizontality of the body or frame of the'sleigh.

Each of the rear runners C is constructed, as shown in Fig. .6 to provide a recess or opening 26 extending through the same from top to bottom, the lower part of saidopening' being flared at the front and rear to provide rounded faces 27 and 28 which will not dig into the road surface. Over the opening 26 there is secured a wheel housing or hood 29, one of the traction wheels G being shown arranged in said recess or opening in Fig. 6. In its inner face each runner C is provided with a vertically elongated opening or slot 30 to admit ofthe up and down movement of the axle F. Each of the wheels G is provided with a substantially flat tread surface 31 having projecting there'- from at intervals traction ribs 32 having -shanks; 33 which set into kerfs 3% 1n the marginal portion of the wheel and threaded stems which are inserted through openings extending radially-ofthe wheel and intersecting other openings 35v extending trans- 'ward cross bar '37, a rear cross bar 38 and fore and aft bearers 39 parallel to each other and located adjacent to the runners 3, said bearers being provided at their front and rear extremities with projecting straps or tongues 40 secured to the cross bars 37 and 38 by suitable fasteners 41, thereby permitting a certain amount of flexibility or rocking movement or twisting of the rear truck bolster to admit of the fore and aft rocking movement of the rear runners. The rear body bolster 42 which has a fixed relation to the frame or body A is provided with end journals 43 which are re ceived in bearing openings 44 (see Fig. 10)

in the bearers 39. Extending in parallel relation to the rear axle F is a rock shaft 45 the extremities of which are journaled in bearing openings 46 indicated in Fig. 2 and formed in the bearers 39. The rock shaft 45 is provided adjacent. to its opposite end with spring arms 17 which, in the preferred embodiment of this invention, rest and ride upon rollers 48 as shown in Fig. 3 ournaled in brackets 49 having a fixed relation to the axle housing 18. Adjacent to one end'the .rock shaft 45 is provided with an arm 50 from which a connecting rod 51 extends to a'manually operable lever 52 within reach of the driver who by means of said lever may turn the rock shaft so as to move the spring arms 47 downwardly and thereby throw sufficient weight on the traction wheels to give them the necessary grip on the road surface according to the condition thereof and the load carried.

' The mechanism for swinging the front runners to either side for steering the sleigh, embodies a steering post 53 provided at its upper end with the usual hand control wheel 54 and having fast thereon below the platform or floor D a pinion 55 which meshes with a relatively large gear 56 on an upright shaft 57 journaled in a bearing 58 under the platform and having its lower end supported by a hanger 59 secured at its extremities to the body or frame A. The lower extremity of the steering shaft 53:is stepped or 'journaled in a strap 60 fastened at one end to the hanger 59 and at its forward end with a front body bolster 2. A steering rod 61 has one end connected to the large gear 56 and the other extremity connected to a link or connecting rod 62 which is pivotally attached at its opposite extremities to arms 63 extending from the knees 3 as best shown in Figs. 5 and 8.

'This enables both of the front runners to be simultaneously turned.

Each of the front runners is provided with a longitudinally extending slot or recess 6-1 therein asshown in Figs. 8 and 9 and in said slot there is mounted a movable fin 65 pivotally mounted adjacent to its front end as shown at 66. Extending upwardly from the fin 65 is a standard or plunger 67 the upper end of which is reduced and extended through a guide opening 68 in the top of the knee. The stand ards or plungers 67 are provided with notches 69 to receive the opposite extremities of a spring bar 70 extending transversely of the sleigh and serving to press downwardly on the standards 67 in order to correspondingly depress the fins 65 so that they will cut into the snow, ice or other road surface and thereby enable the front runners to effectively steer the sleigh, preventing said runners from skidding or sliding laterally. The means for depressing and flexing the spring bar 70 comprises a manually operable lever 71, the lower arm of which beneath the floor or platform I) is connected to one arm of a lever 72 fulcrumed between its ends at 73 on the body bolster 2 and carrying at the extremity of its other arm a roller 7%. When the operator desires to use the fins, he manipulates the lever 71 so as to depress the roller 74-, causing said roller to depress the central portion of the spring bar 70 and thereby depress the fins 65 by means of the standards 67 although depressed, the fins 65 upon coming in contact with a hard object or surface'are permitted to yield upwardly and house themselves within the front runners by the yielding action of the flexible spring bar 70. In steering, the spring bar 70 moves longitudinally under the depressing roller 74, the latter serving to prevent Wear on the bar 70.

As shown in Fig. 7 the rear cross bar 38 is provided at its lower corners with journals 75 which are received in bearing sockets 7 6 in the rear runners C. The sockets 76 are upwardly flared as shown at 77 in Fig. 6 and coupling pins 78 are inserted through the journals 75 and extend upwardly through overhanging extensions 79 of the cross bar 38. By this means the cross bar 38 has a limited rocking movement in relation to the rear runners to permit the latter to rock in a fore and aft direction. The cross bar 37 is formed'with transverse slots 80 to receive pins 81 carried by the runners and thereby admitting of a limited amount of rocking movement between the rear runners and the bar 38. At their forward ends the rear runners are provided with guiding means the same being shown as consisting of eyes 82 fastened to the runners, and upright guides 83 fastened at their upper ends tothe body or frame and having attached to their lower extremities angle braces 8-3: fastened to the body or frame. The forward ends of the rear runners are thus adapted to move upwardly and downwardly while they are prevented from moving laterally. Tubular mud and snow shields 85 extend upwardly from the main body of the front runners and enclose the standards or plungers 67 as shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will now be understood that the traction wheels will adjust themselves to the depth of snow and that they may be yield ingly pressed downward by means under the control of the operator. lVhen the driverdesires to steer or turn the machine to the right or left, he depresses the fins of the front runners by means within his reach, as hereinabove particularly described. He then turns the runners in the desired direction by means of the hand steering wheel. By reason of the specified relation between the rear driving axle and the front truck and body bolsters, taken in connection with the non-extensible running gear, there will be no material increase or decrease of the distance between the engine and driving axle thus adapting the sleigh to the present day automobile driving mechanism including the engine, drive shaft, transmission gearing and differential gearing. Furthermore. by reason of the construction described, the front and rear sets of runners may freely rock transversely of the body and independently of each other and each of therunners is adapted to rock in a fore and aft direction independently of the remaining runners. Thus the runners are adapted to accommodate themselves to all inequalities in the road surface without affecting the horizontality of the frame or body supported thereby.

What I claim is 1. In a motor sleigh, running gear embodying a front truck bolster, a rear driving axle, traction wheels on said axle, a reach bar, hounds extending rearwardly from said reach bar and having the driving axle passed therethrough, front runners having a jointed connection with the front truck bolster, rear runners, a rear body bolster connecting the rear runners, a body bolster supported upon the front truck bolster, a body secured to the front and rear body bolsters, and a propelling motor carried by said'body.

2. In a motor sleigh, running gear em-' bodying a front truck bolster, a rear driving axle, traction wheels on said axle, a reach bar, hounds extending rearwardly from said reach bar and having the driving axle passed therethrough, front runners having a jointed connection with the front truck bolster, rear runners, a rear body bolster having a jointed connection with the rear runners to permit said runners to rock in a fore and aft direction, a body bolster supported upon the front truck bolster, a body secured to the front and rear body bolsters, and a propelling motor carried by said body. a

' 3. In a motor sleigh, running gear embodying a front truck bolster, a rear driving axle, traction wheels on said axle, a'reach bar, hounds extending rearwardly from said reach bar and having the driving axle passed therethrough, front runners having a' jointed connection with the front truck bolster, rear runners, a rear body bolster connecting the rear runners, a transversely rocking body bolster supported upon the front truck bolster, a body secured to the front and rear body bolsters, and a propelling motor carried by said body.

4:. In a motor sleigh, running gear embodying a front truck bolster, a rear driving axle, traction wheels on said axle, a reach bar, hounds extending rearwardly from said reach bar, and having the driving axle passed therethrough, front hounds connected to the front truck bolster and having a swiveled connection with the rear hounds, front runners having a jointed connection with the front truck bolster, rear runners, a rear body bolster connecting the rear runners, a body bolster supported upon the front truck bolster,a body secured to the front and rear body bolsters, and a propeL ling motor carried by said body.

5. In a motor sleigh, running gear embodying a front truck bolster, a rear driving axle, traction wheels on said axle, a reach bar, hounds extending rearwardly from said reach bar, and having the driving axle passed therethrough, front hounds flexibly connected to the front truck bolster and having a swiveled connection with the rear hounds, front runners having a jointed con- 7 nection with the front truck bolster, rear from said reach bar and' having the driving axle passed therethrough, front run ners having a jointed connection with the front truck bolster, rear runners, a rear body bolster connecting th rear runners, a body bolster supported upon the front truck bo1- ster, a body secured to the front and rear body bolsters, a propelling motor carried by said body, and a brace connecting the body and front truck bolster and having a j ointed connection with the latter to permit the same to rock transversely in relation to the body. v

7. Inv a motor sleigh, running gear embodying a front truck bolster, a rear driving axle, traction wheels on, said axle, a reach bar, hounds extending rearwardly from said reach bar and h ving the driving' axle passed therethrough, front runners having a jointed connection with the front truck bolster to permit said runners to rock in a axle, traction wheels on said axle, a reach.

bar, hounds extending rearwardly from said reach bar and having the driving axle passed therethrough, front runners having a jointed connection with the front truck bolster to permit said runners to rock in a fore and aft direction, rear runners, at rear body bolster connecting the rear runners, a body bolster supported upon the front truck bolster, a body secured to the front and rear body bolsters, a propelling motor carried by said body, and a yoke connecting the front runners and jointed thereto .to permit said runners toswing laterally and/rock independently of each other.-

9. In a motor sleigh, the combination of a body, a motor mounted thereon, front and rear runners supporting said body, a

rear driving axle, traction wheels on said mitting them to rock in a fore and aft'direction, and a rear body bolster having its ends iournaled in said rear truck bolster.

1 10. In a motor sleigh, the combination of a body, a motor mounted thereon, front and rear runners supporting said body, a rear driving axle, traction wheels on said axle, a rear truck bolster with Which the rear runners have a jointed connection permitting them to rock in a fore and aft direction, a rear body bolster having its ends journaled in said rear truck bolster, a front truck bolster, running gear connected to the front truck bolster and carrying the driving axle, a rock shaft journaled in the rear truck bolster, and spring arms on said rock shaft for yieldingly depressing the driving axle and traction wheels in relation to the body and rear runners.

11. In a motor sleigh, the combination of a body, a motor mounted thereon, front and rear runners supporting said body, a rear driving axle, traction Wheels on said axle, a rear truck bolster with which the rear runners have a jointed connection permitting them to rock in a fore and aft direction, a rear body bolster having its ends j ournaled in said reartruck bolster, a front truck bolster, running gear connected to the front truck bolsterand carrying the driving axle, a rock shaft journaled in the rear truck bolster, and spring arms on said rock shaft for yieldingly depressing the driving axle and traction wheels in relation to the body and'rear runners, and manually operable means for rocking said shaft.

12. In a motor sleigh, the combination of a body, a motor mounted thereon, front and rear runners supporting said body, a rear driving axle, traction wheels on said axle, a rear truck bolster with which the rear runners have a jointed connection permitting them to rock in a fore and aft direction, a rear body bolster having its ends journaled in said rear truck bolster, a front truck bolster, running gear connected to the front truck bolster and carrying the driving axle, a rock shaft journaled in the rear truck bolster, spring arms on said rock shaft for yieldingly depressing the driving axle and traction Wheels in relation to the body and. rear runners, and rollers on the driving axle housing upon which said spring arms bear.

13. In a motor sleigh, the combination of a body, a motor mounted thereon, front and rear runners supporting said body, a rear driving axle, traction wheels on said axle, a rear truck bolster with which the rear runners have a jointed connection permitting them to rock in a fore and aft direction, a rear body bolster having its ends journaled in said rear truck bolster, and guiding means for said rear runners in the fore and aft rocking movement thereof.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PETER n. SMITH.

Witnesses F. A. Hos'rnn, BENNETT S. JONES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

